Top 10 Best Women’s Smart Watches of 2020

From Chic to Showy and Everything in Between, These Wearables are Pure Perfection.

Once upon a time when dinosaurs roamed the Earth, people carried around entire stereos on their shoulders because—at any moment—there could be a breakdance battle and you had to be prepared.

From there we got Sony Walkmans (that played cassette tapes), Discmans, Microsoft Zunes (lol), Apple iPods, iPhones, and finally smartwatches.

Have we come a long way?

Yes, we have (but with a lot less breakdancing). Where am I going with this you’re probably asking…

Well, the thing is, just a few years ago, the first smartwatches weren’t much smaller than those “portable” stereos from 1983. They were just about as fashionable, and nearly as heavy.

Fortunately, a not so small company named Apple introduced its first Apple Watch and forever changed the game. And just like so many past Apple innovations, competitors have sprung up like spring daisies with a plethora of rival smartwatches—and to the delight of many (including me), some of them are as brilliant as they are beautiful.

Now luckily for you my lovely readers, this isn’t the Best Women’s Smartwatches of 2015 edition,because if I were, it would be a very short list.

What I’m trying to say is that in the last three to four years, wearable technology has gotten vastly more female-friendly and fashion-forward.

Perhaps one of the persistent complaints about pre-Apple Watch wearables was the undeniable fact that they didn’t fit well if you had dainty wrists. I’m here to tell you that most manufacturers as of 2019 have gotten the message that not everyone wants a bulky gadget jutting out from their arm.

Below are impeccably designed selections that are as comfortable as they are useful with form-factors to meet the needs of a varied audience.

Long gone are the slow, twitchy, and frustrating wearable operating systems and anemic processors that made earlier smartwatches nothing more than a migraine strapped to your wrist. In fact, every selection below was thoroughly tested to ensure reliable performance for the workplace, athletic and parental endeavors, or social gatherings.

What about looks?

You’re in for a surprise because you couldn’t have picked a better time to treat yourself to a new watch. Most recognizable names in fashion have truly delivered devices that will adore and indulge your sartorial senses. Whether you can spring for Louis Vuitton or need brilliance on a budget, there is a little something for everyone.

Let me explain.

Our comprehensive and extensively researched 2020 buyer’s guide leaves behind all of those odd-looking, chunky, clunky bricks from yesteryear and brings your devices that will delight your senses, and empower your productivity.

It’s important to note that when I say “extensively researched” I’m really not exaggerating (because I would never do that)…From the manufacturers, YouTube, to review sites, hands-on testing and interviews with women from all walks of life, I’ve compiled this mountain of information into an easy to digest guide that will steer you right towards a smart watch you’ll be thrilled to own.

So, without further ado…

Continue below to the greatest article ever written, or maybe 5th greatest (I’ll let you decide).

And don’t forget:

Click on the “Check Price” buttons of your top three or so fav smartwatches because we’ve found a deal or two you won’t want to miss.

Best Women’s Smartwatches of 2020

Short on time and patience? Are my eloquently crafted words interrupting ”Friends” re-runs? Will Ross ever forgive Joey for kissing Rachel? I completely understand…You have things to do and places to be.

You can click on any of the watches under the “Smartwatch Name” column to jump right to that section of the article.

Or click on the button under the “Check Price” column to go right to the product and specifications page where you can see pricing. Then come back to BestGear.co when you’re ready to dive back into one of our articles.

Garmin Forerunner 45S, Iris 39mm – Women’s Best Smartwatch for Fitness Tracking

The Best Wearable Fitness Coach for Under $200

The Good

The Forerunner 45S is Garmin’s newest low-price fitness smartwatch with ‘Garmin Coach’ training plan support. Its round watch-face has five buttons, which makes interacting with the software more straightforward and intuitive, especially during physical activity. Connect IQ is now available for the first time on a Garmin watch (at this sub-$200 price) enabling you to download thousands of watch faces.

The Bad

Not the most vibrant display I’ve ever seen, nor extremely high resolution either, but for $199 it’s perfectly acceptable given that price-point. There isn’t any stair tracking because the watch lacks a barometric altimeter to measure your height, but you do get steps, distance, heart rate, and sleep. Back on the price for a minute…At $199 we are nearing Apple Watch Series 3 cost during a sale, so you really have to decide whether you want a fitness-focused watch (Garmin) or a lifestyle watch (Apple).

The Ugly

In black, I find the design rather dull. If you opt for the color “Iris” which is a perfectly saturated shade of violet, or the more powerful “Lava Red,” you’ll be a lot happier in terms of style. Garmin also offers this smart watch in white, providing a nice contrast and easy pairing with your athletic and casual clothes. This is definitely not going to be a watch you can pair with formal-ware or social events, but if fitness and athletics are your core focus, then don’t let the looks get in the way. In terms of the watch band, I like the diagonal texture that gives it a little something extra.

The Tech

Always on display is preferable to the lift-to-wake feature seen on many lifestyle watch offerings. You’ll get nearly seven days in smartwatch mode and 13 hours in GPS mode for battery life. Built-in GPS means you can leave your phone at home.

Overview

Perhaps the most feature-rich fitness smartwatch on the market for under $200, the Garmin Forerunner 45S is overflowing with features to satisfy most semi-serious athletes.

My favorite thing about this watch is ‘Garmin Coach,’ because who doesn’t need a little prodding to be more active instead of watching Game of Thrones Season 8 (you’re not missing anything—Season 8 was terrible, trust me).

Here’s how this works:

1. You choose a goal like running a 5K.
2. Select a coach.
3. Workouts sync to your watch.
4. The plan adapts to suit you.
5. And then you get a little extra advice along the way.

With ‘Garmin Coach’ all of the hassles of setting up and maintaining a fitness regiment are thrown out the window in favor of automation and ease of use—which boils down to you spending more time enjoying the outdoors, the gym, or yourAerial Fitness class and not fussing with an app or software. I really do love this aspect of the smartwatch, and I think you will too.

Built-in GPS tracks your pace, distance, intervals, and location, all while letting you leave your phone at home. Now GPS quality varies extensively from one watch to the next, but Garmin has really done a stand-out job of making sure their offering is accurate and reliable, which leads to my next crucial point…

You get both incident (fall/crash) detection and assistance features. These notify your friends or family if you get hurt during certain activities or if you’re worried that someone creepy is following you. I’d like to see these features become as pervasive as GPS on smartwatches; they’re a sensible and smart way to deal with dangerous situations.

An optical heart rate sensor works to track both your heart and your stress 24×7 and is surprisingly reliable for a $200 watch. There are a lot of available profiles for many popular activities, but not quite as many as more expensive units; the short list is: biking, indoor biking, running, treadmill and indoor running, cardio, elliptical, stair stepping, and yoga.

In terms of responsiveness and ease of use, the software has come a very long way. The new 45S follows the menu system of Garmin’s higher-end watches, rather than the older and clunkier menu of their budget watches.

If you want something that is super sport-focused, then the Garmin watch will be an excellent choice, but if you want a more well-rounded lifestyle watch, Samsung and Apple’s offerings are going to be more in line with your goals.

Pro-Tip

Remember to setup and test Garmin Safety Assistance. You want to make sure that if you’re in an emergency situation or possibly in danger, that you can notify your friends and family and transmit your location along with a message—simply by pushing a button.

Apple Watch Series 4, 40mm – Best Women’s Apple Watch of 2020

A Well-Rounded Lifestyle Smartwatch in a Petite Package

The Good

Big improvements in fit and design over the Apple Watch Series 3—namely the elimination of the black gap around the edge of the watch screen and a less tech-inspired shape with more roundness from every angle. Usability has benefited from a display that is over 30% larger in the 40mm version; more screen real estate allows for apps that are simpler to use, less accidental presses, and vastly more useful. Proactive health monitoring is a game-changing life-saver that cannot be understated (more on this below).

The Bad

Be prepared to charge the watch a little too regularly…Battery life hasn’t gotten better from the Series 3 to the Series 4 with both rated at around 18-24 hours. But down here in the real world, many users complain about 12-14 hours under regular to heavy use. Even with the plethora of well-made and tasteful designer watch bands, the design of the Apple Watch Series 4 is a touch dull, and this becomes especially apparent with some of the newer offerings by Samsung, Withings and more. Fitness tracking is useful when it works—but it doesn’t always work; some of this is user error from not have the watch strapped securely to your wrist and other times it can be chalked up to the software. Now, in all fairness, Apple Watch OS 6 comes out this fall, and Apple is stellar at improving their software with each major new release.

The Ugly

“Striking” is not a word I would use with the Apple Watch Series 4. The construction of the watch is flawless, and you’d be hard-pressed to have an issue with quality in this regard, but for an Apple product, I feel like they played things just a touch too safe. Luckily, Apple’s design team managed not to make the watch too masculine, which is a trap many other manufacturers have fallen into for years with some downright awkward and blocky designs. Merely eliminating the huge black band around the watch screen present in the Apple Watch Series 3 has given new life to what is a somewhat sedate product.

The Tech

So many delicious and useful goodies that I could never cover them all in this brief article, so make sure to come back and visit us to see my full feature-length review here in the next few months. Here’s the low-down on some of the exciting new tech in the Series 4: electrical heart sensor with ECG, Fall Detection, Emergency SOS, Automatic Workout Detection, Comprehensive Activity Tracker, Apple Music and Podcasts, and really so very much more.

Overview

Usability and user-experience are boring words, I know, but I cannot stress this enough just how genuinely flawless the Apple Watches and Apple’s ecosystem are. Here’s what I mean: their stuff works, it’s intuitive and easy to use, and it doesn’t get fussy and crash on your like other company’s products do.

An absolutely robust ecosystem of smart watch apps gives the Apple Watch Series 4 a sizable lead against competitors in this regard. There is really an app for just about everything.

You’ll get all the standard fair like accurate GPS tracking, activity trackers and the like, but where the Series 4 is in a class all of its own is the ECG capability. Heart disease is a significant risk for women, and symptoms can often show up when you’re resting or asleep…The ECG monitor adds a layer of protection for your health by notifying you of irregular heart rhythms as well as low and high heart rate.

Emergency SOS is another standout feature that allows you to call 911 and notify your emergency contacts, even if you’re left your phone behind—just so long as you bought the Apple Watch Series 4 with cellular.

Apple Music is available on the Series 4 and let me tell you: it is without a doubt the best $9.99 a month I spend ($14.99 for the family plan)…Paired with one of the new and surprisingly elegant Beats Studio Wireless headphones, you’ll be ready to rock your next CrossFit or HIIT class…While this is not a review about Beats headphones, I’m in love with the new Skyline Collection which is part of the Studio 3 line…The ‘Crystal Blue’ and ‘Desert Sand’ are both artfully done.

Keep one final thing in mind: you need an Apple iPhone if you’re going to buy an Apple Watch. I’m also going to recommend the 40mm size watch as being significantly more prevalent and popular among my female readers. If you can afford it, I also like the Apple Watch with the cellular function…Being able to leave your phone behind is liberating (just don’t leave it behind at Denny’s at 3:30am Sunday morning after a night out at the club, which I swear I’ve never done before).

Pro-Tip

Amazon Prime Day 2019 starts July 15th, 2019. What is Amazon Prime Day, you say? …That’s a smart question! If you’re an Amazon Prime member they have all sorts of obscenely awesome deals and one of them is expected to be a deep discount on both the Apple Watch Series 3 and Series 4. I can feel my wallet and my man-purse (aka murse) getting lighter already.

Runway Heart Rate Acetate and Rainbow Pavé Smartwatch – Best Women’s Smart Watch by Michael Kors

An Iconic Fashion Accessory with Next-Evolution Technology

The Good

Brand spanking new! You could be the first one on your block to own this little beauty. Powered by Google’s latest version of Wear OS. Wear OS is a big step up from the days of ‘Android Wear’ which was the preceding operating system. Whimsical design and vividly colored bezel will garner all the right type of attention. Very reasonable price for a luxury branded smartwatch that is also feature-rich.

The Bad

OMG, the name of this smartwatch! I’ve been a fan of Michael Kors’ work for many years. He combines a palette of standout (often radiant) colors, employs contrast in his designs, then adds a hefty dose of minimalism to create a stunning array of beautiful products like purses, backpacks, belts, and more. But lord almighty some of the names of his products are just too much…I think his branding department needs to call me. The full name of this smart watch is literally: Runway Heart Rate Acetate and Rainbow Pavé Smartwatch, so please keep that in mind when you’re shopping, so you don’t accidentally buy one of the older models.

The Ugly

I won’t lie to you, this made the list (first and foremost) because it’s so pretty and unlike anything else in terms of aesthetics. It’s beyond obvious that this is a Michael Kors creation by the bezel alone…Excuse me did I say “bezel”? I meant to say “a rainbow pavé topring.” The topring is a mix of various colors that works its way through the color spectrum in a way that is fun and brilliant without being garish.

A polished silver exterior supports, but doesn’t detract from the topring and watch face. You’ll appreciate the side-profile where layers of metal are sandwiched together to add texture to the design. All of this is completed by an “MK” adorned dial on the right side of the smartwatch.

The Tech

Details are still coming out, but what we know right now is that you’ll get all of the most popular functions for a lifestyle smartwatch. An AMOLED display ensures crisp, accurate colors, and fine resolution above what you might see in a fitness-focused Garmin smartwatch. Unlike like the Apple Watches, the Michael Kors Runway Heart Rate Acetate is compatible with both Android Smart Phones and Apple iPhones, but you’ll probably get a slightly better experience with an Android Phone.

Overview

There is a surprising amount goodies packed into this 41mm watch. You’ll get all of your social media updates, text and email alerts, as well as app notifications.

Fitness tracking, heart rate tracking, and swim-proof technology allow you to wear the watch in the pool; it’s water-resistant up to 30M and backed by a 2-year warranty so don’t be shy about looking fly at the gym or during a swim. (That accidentally sounded like a Dr. Seuss book, so I left it in on purpose.)

GPS distance and location tracking is included and is finally getting ubiquitous across virtually all smartwatches (as it should be).

Google has often had to play a bit of catch-up with Apple in most areas, but their voice-activated assistant aptly named “Google Assistant” is far superior to Siri—but then again you can give Siri an English accent which I enjoy. I bring this up because yes, Google Assistant is available on the Michael Kors Rainbow Pavé Smartwatch.

In all, if fashion comes first, this should be at, or near, the top of your list.

But whatever you do:

At least click on the link above to see for yourself. What do you think of the design and the Rainbow Pavé Topring?

Pro-Tip

Make sure to set up Google Payments and try them out for a spell. It takes a little getting used to—but once you’re comfortable with the technology, it’s so much more convenient than digging through your wallet to find your Chase Mickey Mouse VISA debit card.

Louis Vuitton Connected Watch Tambour Horizon Pure White 42 – Most Fashionable Women’s Luxury Smartwatch

An Indelible Instance of French Couture Fashion

The Good

Is this the most beautiful smartwatch ever made? I think so. In my not so humble opinion, this is quite simply “it.” Expertly constructed and flawlessly designed, there is nothing that feels rushed or overlooked. Customizable watch faces are present in many other smartwatches, but those included here, are works of art and are often created through collaborations with other designers or are inspired by Louis Vuitton fashion shows.

The Bad

There is a part of me that really wants to leave this section blank. “Bad” is simply too strong of a word to describe the Louis Vuitton Connected Watch Tambour Horizon. Sure, the eye-watering price is going to be out of reach for many as it costs about as much as a lightly used Kia Sorrento, but you could always buy the watch and just take Uber. If I have to put something here, I would like to see longer battery life. The battery is good for about one day, but you’ll really need to charge the watch every night.

The Ugly

Louis Vuitton has succeeded in creating high-tech products that don’t look like technology products—even a little. What you’ve come to expect from Louis Vuitton in terms of elegance, design, and craftsmanship is imbued within their smartwatches. I scoured every major fashion brand, and this watch stood above all others…And many of the women who helped me craft this review also agreed with that sentiment.

Perfect proportions, a round watch face, two smooth polished watch band clasps, and the Blanc colored band mesh perfectly to create a distinguished look. If you decide to treat yourself, there are a variety of watch band materials and different colors for each material—so make sure to play around with the watch-builder on Louis Vuitton’s website at our links above. Remember to personalize your look with one of the many inspired custom watch faces.

The Tech

Contactless payments via Android Pay are standard. You’ll also receive exclusive access to the “LV City Guide” dedicated travel application. The 1.2″ round AMOLED touch screen has a resolution of 390×390 pixels, which is one of the highest I’ve seen…It really is rather challenging to tell this is a smartwatch due to the color and clarity of the display.

Overview

Nothing excites me more than reviewing Louis Vuitton products…Okay, that was a small fib—Porsche is just barely more exciting, but not by much. The thing with Louis Vuitton is they never release anything that isn’t completely aligned with their brand and their immeasurably high standards.

I think I’ve said enough about the beauty that is the Connected Watch Tambour Horizon so I’ll focus for a minute on Google’s Wear OS. Firstly, Google Assistant, which is Google’s answer to Siri, is the best virtual assistant around. Just by speaking to Google Assistant you can perform a myriad of useful functions like seeing what coffee shops are around you, getting your schedule for the day, or getting answers to just about any question you can come up with. Simply speak to Google Assistant just like you would talk to a real person, and you’ll be simply shocked at how much it now understands.

One thing I left out above is that there aren’t fitness features on this watch, but given the context of Louis Vuitton’s smartwatch offerings I don’t feel like that is something which is a negative…Are there people who want to wear a Louis Vuitton Connected Watch Tambour Horizon to a spin class? Maybe…but they’ll be few and far between.

When you want to add an accessory to your ensemble that truly shines while eliminating the necessity to check your smartphone every five minutes, consider this offering. I’ll wager that it will put a smile on your face every time you peer at it.

Pro-Tip

Give the “My Travel” watch face a try. Your flight, train, hotel, and other pertinent travel information will be displayed. It’s both attractive and useful.

Kate Spade White Silicone Scallop Smartwatch 2 – Most Fashionable Women’s Smartwatch on a Budget

An Elegant Accessory for the Everyday Bustle & Hustle

The Good

With a new creative director behind the watch, you’ll get subtle design changes and some significant tech changes with an overall improvement in every area, above and beyond the original Kate Spade Scallop.

The Bad

Kate Spade—like most other manufacturers—needs to step up their battery game; expect to charge every day or even twice a day under heavy use. Google’s Wear OS is a massive leap forward compared to Android Wear, but if you’re coming from the Apple ecosystem, you’ll have to have to make some adjustments and re-learn a few things. A few users would like to see more sensitivity regarding the gestures, but this appears to be more of a personal preference than anything.

The Ugly

For those not in the “know” the Scallop gets its name from the half-circle pattern around the watch’s bezel; this pattern now continues down the watch strap giving a more cohesive look to the Kate Spade Scallop 2. There is a “spade motif” that is omnipresent within the software powering the watch that is an elegant step forward which better ties in the technology with the physical design elements of the smartwatch.

The Tech

On the back is a heart rate sensor that has a delightful little animated spade when you access that area of the Wear OS software…I have to give big credit here to Kate Spade’s design team: this is a wonderful product where the attention to detail shine brightly.

Overview

Have you ever seen anything inspired by the Art Deco movement that swept across France around the 1920s or so? If not, it’s worth a Google because this watch, and the styling Kate Spade did to Google’s Wear OS, gives off a minimalist Art Deco vibe—which I absolutely love. In its heyday, Art Deco combined luxury, glamour, exuberance, and technological progress which was applied to visual arts, fashion, buildings, and more. Very simply: Art Deco is a perfect match for the new Kate Spade Scallop 2 Smartwatch.

Below the crown is a new button which allows you to customize your watch face so that it accentuates or matches your look for that day. Most reviewers would probably not get too excited about something like this, but I’m in total disagreement here…This is fun! You can change the face of the watch, the colors and more, so that it reflects your daily style—all in a way that is quick and easy to use. Now, if you don’t want to take advantage of this feature, you can re-map the button to another quick-access feature. At the time of this writing, this is an entirely unique advantage only present on the Scallop 2 smart watches.

Screen size comes in at 1.2″ or about 31mm, built-in GPS is standard, and you get 11 pre-configured watch faces. A Snapdragon 2100 processor is standard, but it sits below the Snapdragon 3100 which is the latest and greatest processor around…Is this something you should be concerned about? I would say absolutely not. Kate Spade optimized the watch’s software well, and you’ll find it responsive and intuitive to use; I also think that the slightly less powerful processor helped put the Scallop 2 at a reasonable price-point.

Activity Tracking, NFC payments, heart rate monitoring, message and app alerts, and music control are all standard. With a fashion-first design and technology second, Kate Spade and crew have assembled a truly unique fashion accessory at a price anyone could afford—so long as you’re willing to skip Starbucks once or twice a week for a few months.

Pro-Tip

Of the 11 pre-configured watch faces, all of them were designed to help you match the watch to other Kate Spade products and looks. Play around a bit and see which inspires you! : )

M.Y. Misfit – Custom Misfit Path – Best Women’s Smart Watch for the Workplace

Pure Professionalism Combined with Incomparable Style

The Good

One of the few lines of smartwatches explicitly created for women. You don’t need to charge it…Expect 3-6 months of use on the coin-style battery. Styling screams “professional” and would be the perfect accessory for more traditional workplaces that have stricter dress-codes.

The Bad

Some notifications can be a bit more limiting on the iPhone in terms of what apps can be assigned to the top button, but this really shouldn’t be too big of a deterrent from purchasing this hybrid smartwatch.

The Ugly

An array of watch-faces and bands give you hundreds of potential options to make your M.Y. Misfit Path customized to suit your individual taste and style. Now, being the over-opinionated person I am and prone to give unsolicited advice—my favorite is the “Champagne Stainless Steel” watch face, paired with the “Ice” or “Dusty Blue” custom strap…But if you want something a tad more striking, go with the “Black” custom strap instead; the contrast is perfect.

The Tech

Connects via BlueTooth to its companion app; the companion app is available on both the Google Play and Apple App Store. Use the Misfit App to set activity goals and then press the top button to see how far along you are for that day.

Overview

We should start by discussing Hybrid Smartwatches in general, because I know I was confused the first time as to what these actually were. A hybrid smartwatch is a watch (first and foremost) that doesn’t have an electronic display. The display is a real watch face and all the sartorial goodness that comes along with it. What a hybrid smart watch does is track things like fitness activity, notifications, and smart-button functionality—all of which is then synced to an application on your smartphone.

In terms of the capability of the M.Y. Misfit Custom Misfit Path (what is with these long names?!) you get the following activity-tracking: steps, calories, and distance.

There are so few smartwatch manufacturers creating wearable technology specifically for women; most try the more unisex approach which always leads to a series of compromises. Luckily for you, my fine readers, the Misfit Path Custom was designed with only women in mind…It is the smallest and lightest smartwatch in their line-up. If you’ve grown tired of wearing a heavy watch, this just might be for you. It’s super-lightweight, incredibly chic, and packaged in an effectively beautiful minimalist design.

Do you like Movado watches?

They’re probably my absolute fave in terms of styling. I can see some crossover in Movado’s design with Misfit’s, and that’s undoubtedly a compliment. If you take a close look at the Misfit Path, you’ll notice duo-toned watch-hands which are a pleasant touch to an already tight design aesthetic.

Notifications are relayed from your phone to the smartwatch via vibration. Setting up and controlling notifications is done via the Misfit Connected App available for both Android and iPhones. Only two buttons adorn the side of the watch. The top button shows your activity for the day by temporarily moving the watch-hands and then returning to the current time. And the bottom button is assigned to a function of your choosing, for example, you can use it to snap a selfie photo with your phone (which is pretty clever).

The M.Y. Misfit Path Custom is a modern hybrid design that is ideal for professionals or anyone who dresses up at work, or for anyone who prefers form over function.

Pro-Tip

Have a little fun playing around with the notification settings because there is a lot of surprising functionality packed into the M.Y. Misfit Hybrid Smartwatch. For example, you can assign a number to the friends and family you communicate with the most, so that when your mom texts you, the watch will vibrate and then the hands will point to 2 o’clock or whatever number you choose. You can also assign specific apps to specific numbers, which is especially useful in the workplace. For example, you might have Telegram go to 3 o’clock, and WeChat go to 4 o’clock.

Fitbit Versa Special Edition – Best Women’s Smartwatch for Health Tracking

Live Fully with the Best Health & Fitness Tracker for Women

The Good

Long battery life, combined with enough data and sensor technology to keep you motivated 24/7. The perfect product to increase your fitness, improve your health, and consequently increase your happiness.

The Bad

Early versions of this watch had some failures after a few months of use, but this has mostly decreased with time. Remember, the Fitbit Versa Special Edition comes with a 1-year warranty, and a 45-day money-back guarantee, so you’re covered from any early issues. Being a technology person, I can give you a little tip, and this applies to just about anything: if something does have a problem, it’s usually right after you purchase the product…If you make it beyond that initial break-in phase, you’re typically golden.

The Ugly

For a watch that is a fraction of the price of an Apple Watch, the design is surprisingly much more on point. The beveled edge of the watch’s face gives the “look” more balance. Fitbit’s selection of watch bands are arguably more attractive at a more affordable price than Apple’s—except for Apple’s Hermès watch bands that are striking but crazy overpriced.

The Tech

For such an affordable watch, you get a very reasonable 300 x 300-pixel resolution display, which is easy to read when outdoors under the sun. The sensor package on this fitness tracker is pretty stellar including an altimeter, optical heart rate monitor, SpO2 (oxygen sensor), ambient light sensor, and more. What you should take away from all these sensors is basically that there is enough tech here to track just about every activity you’ll be engaging in.

Overview

We have come so very far from past Fitbit watches. You don’t believe me? Go to Google Images and type “Fitbit Ionic” and you’ll see…The Fitbit Ionic looks like a cross between your Junior High school calculator and something worn by a character in the original Star Trek (you know your dad has the entire series on VHS tapes).

Enter the Fitbit Versa Special Edition which (thankfully) looks nothing like the Fitbit Ionic. There are three versions of the Versa starting with the cheapest which is the “Lite Edition” followed by the “Versa” and ending with the “Versa Special Edition” which is the most feature-rich, and most expensive of the series.

There are simply so many features crammed into this watch that I’ll have to write a deep-dive review here in the very near future…Speaking of “deep-dive” the Fitbit Versa series is water resistance to 50 meters so don’t be shy about taking it for a swim.

Fitbit’s slogan is “Live your best life,” and I’ll admit they’ve achieved that with the Versa series. You’ll get all-day activity and step tracking, heart rate trends, and notifications to give you a gentle nudge, so you stay on your own personalized fitness-path. Female health tracking is also included so you can track your cycle and compare it to all other aspects of your personal health. Sleep tracking shows you how much of each sleep-phase your getting every night and helps you make adjustments accordingly; to some, this may not be a priority feature, but as you get older it becomes harder and harder to sleep throughout the night without interruption making this a must-have.

You may be tempted to opt for the Fitbit Versa Lite Edition and save $60, but the Versa Special Edition offers a lot of provocative upgrades such as floors climbed, swim lap tracking, store-and-play music, on-screen workouts, and on-wrist payments. Having personally ditched my extra-large phone for all of my physical activities, I can tell you that it’s a priceless lifestyle upgrade…I can’t ever see myself going back to lugging my smartphone to the gym or when going for a run.

Many of the active women I surveyed who’ve owned the Fitbit Versa Special Edition have been glad they’ve purchased it over the Apple Watch due to how slim it is, the comfort, and the more prominent focus on a pure fitness and health-related wearable product. So if you’re in the market for a quality fitness tracker that also triples as a coach and cheerleader, you’ll be extremely pleased with the Versa Special Edition.

Pro-Tip

I mentioned earlier that the Fitbit Versa Special Edition is indeed water-resistant, but Fitbit doesn’t want you pushing your luck by taking the fitness tracker in a hot tub or sauna; my educated guess here is that the heat can both separate and damage the components.

Withings Steel HR 36mm Sapphire Signature White & Rose Gold – Best Hybrid Smartwatch for Women

Uncompromising Elegance in a Timeless Package

The Good

The Withings Steel HR hybrid smartwatch will be right at home during your classiest outings and events and is perfect for more upscale office environments. Faultlessly designed—all for a fraction of the price of a Louis Vuitton Connected Watch Tambour Horizon. No complaints on the battery for once…You’ll get up to 25 days on one charge. Water-resistant to 50 meters even though this is a luxury-first smartwatch.

The Bad

Only one repeatable alarm at one specific time, so don’t mash the snooze button or shut it off or you might miss your morning stand-up meeting. There is a decent amount of fitness tracking capability, but this is not a Fitbit so if you’re needing a fitness-first product, scroll up and read the Versa Special Edition section.

The Ugly

No complaints. At. All. It is positively impossible to find a flaw with the look of this watch. Withings has curated the perfect series of watch-face colors, bands, and casings to ensure every combination looks fetching. What I like about this watch versus many of the more lifestyle-focused options is that it’s a timeless look that won’t go out of style.

The Tech

Easily one of the most innovative smart watches in the design department…Most smartwatches fall into one of three categories: fitness trackers, lifestyle smartwatches with fully digital screens, or full-on hybrid watches. Withings Steel HR 36mm Sapphire Signature watch is a hybrid device that looks like a luxury product with a small integrated digital display. What surprises me the most is that the digital screen doesn’t detract in any way from the rest of the look. Bravo Withings!

Overview

Withings entire line of Steel HR hybrid smartwatches is commanding in every way. Expertly crafted from quality components like 316L stainless steel and then paired with either leather or Milanese bands, these watches look far more expensive than they actually are. Prices for the Steel HR start at a respectable $179.95 for the Regular Edition, $229.95 for the Limited Edition, and top out at $299.95 for the Sapphire Edition. What blew me away was that the only difference between each edition is the color and watchband, and even at the $179.95 price, you’re getting one classy timepiece.

Who am I kidding? Don’t we all need a little excess in our lives from time to time?

While I enjoy the Regular and Limited Editions, it is the Sapphire Edition I would spring for. The least expensive model comes with a silicone watch band, but when you upgrade to the Sapphire in the Rose Gold you get a pure snow-white watch-face, paired with a “Ferrari-red” leather band; its a winning combination that will get noticed at your next cocktail or lounge party.

There is a “Steel” edition for less money, but I can’t recommend it. For only a little more the Withings Steel HR gives you heart-rate monitoring, smartphone notifications, and connected-GPS (which means it uses and requires your smartphone’s GPS to function).

You might be wondering if the 25-day battery is a typo or if it requires a coin-style replaceable battery…I assure you, that is not the case. It is indeed a rechargeable battery.

Again, I’m going to create an in-depth review for you all, but for now, you’ll get the following stand-out features:

• 24/7 Heart rate monitoring
• Multi-sport tracking
• Automatically recognizes and records walk, run, swim, and sleep
• Activate work-out mode by pushing the button on your wrist
• Intuitive Health Mat app manages everything from fitness goals to sleep scoring
• On-demand info on the mini-display shows things like your calories burned, steps taken, or heart-rate.

As far as hybrid smartwatches go, I think Withings has found an exciting middle-ground between adding a ton of functionality without resorting to creating a lifestyle watch with a completely digital display. Before you choose to purchase any watch on this list, make sure to give this option a quick look because seeing is believing.

Pro-Tip

Do you like to match with your significant other from time to time? There are color combinations of the Withings Steel HR hybrid smartwatch that would look great on men as well as women for a his-and-her look.

Skagen Smartwatch – Falster 2 Magnetic Steel-Mesh – Best Wear OS (Android) Smartwatch for Women

A Capable & Clean Smartwatch for Women with Android Phones

The Good

Incredible display is crisp and clear. A very flexible look will allow you to pair this watch with both casual and street-wear, or high-fashion attire. Small and very light coming in at 59 grams.

The Bad

If you have a petite wrist, the strap might be too large, but there are lots of alternatives. Not water-resistant so if you’re a swimmer, this isn’t the watch for you, but the screen is swim-proof meaning it can handle getting moisture on it. No sleep tracking, but with a metallic watch band I don’t think this is something you’ll wear to sleep, so perhaps this isn’t an issue for most people.

The Ugly

Three buttons on the side (one of which is the crown) give the watch a bit more of a masculine look than competitors, but it’s not a deal-breaker. Easily the most versatile watch on the list in terms of style, and incredibly flexible in terms of capability due to Google Wear OS.

The Tech

Currently running the Snapdragon 2100 processor, even though the more powerful 3100 has been released. The 2100 processor is robust enough to deliver a lag-free experience, but the 3100 extends the battery life just a bit, the point being: the user experience on the Skagen Falster 2 really isn’t going to suffer here.

Overview

There are so many options in the Google Wear OS space that it can be challenging to find a smartwatch that is both stylish, intuitive to use, and thoughtfully designed. Fortunately, Skagen, which started as a Danish company, has infused European quality and engineering into all of their products. Enter the Skagen Falster 2 Magnetic Steel-Mesh wearable smartwatch.

Right away you’ll notice a clean, almost unisex, and minimalist design sensibility which is indicative of its Danish roots. If you’ve ever been saddled with a heavy or bulky smartwatch, you’ll immediately appreciate the lightness and petite size of the watch. This iteration of Google’s Wear OS is a flawless blend of minimalism and form that merges well with the smart watch’s exterior.

Oh, and before I forget…The Magnetic Steel-Mesh watch band has a magnetic strap which I just love because you can get the perfect fit.

Some users may be concerned with the smaller 300mA battery, but you’ll find under normal usage it to be adequate; you can get away with charging every other day for some users or once a day under heavy usage. If battery life is a concern, note that you can charge the watch up to about 80% in just under an hour.

Are you an Android phone user?

If that is the case, I highly recommend a watch either running Wear OS or Tizen OS, which is used by Samsung. You’re going to get a better user experience when paired with your Android smartphone, especially when it comes to notifications and tighter integration with fitness and health-related apps.

Feature-wise the Skagen Falster 2 is well-rounded with heart-rate tracking, smartphone notifications, activity tracking, Google Pay, integrated GPS, and of course, Google Assistant. As mentioned early in this article, Google Assistant is vastly superior to Apple’s Siri, but I wish they gave Google Assistant a better name, like “Bob” or “Franklin.” Another notable benefit to Wear OS is the rapidly growing list of third-party apps from the Google Play Store. Once upon a time, Google apps had quality issues when compared to their Apple counterparts, but that is mostly a non-existent issue these days.

Pro-Tip

Google Pay works fantastically, and it’s worth the time to set it up and learn to use it. Also, try out the different Workouts in Google Fit so you can get more accurate fitness tracking.

Samsung Galaxy Watch Active – Best Women’s Smartwatch in 2020

Power, Premium Design, and Incredible Versatility Make this the Best Women’s Smartwatch of 2020

The Good

You get so much versatility and capability for half the price of an Apple Watch Series 4. This is one of the first full-featured smartwatches that is an all-around high-quality wearable contender—all for under $200.

The Bad

Early versions suffered from mediocre battery life and some buggy software issues; both have been mainly addressed, and the user experience has vastly improved since launch. You don’t get the rotating bezel, and the design has been simplified when compared to Samsung’s more expensive Galaxy smartwatches. Navigation doesn’t suffer per se, but the rotating bezel on higher-end wearable devices does make things a tad more efficient.

The Ugly

Like the Apple Watch Series 3 and 4, the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active goes for a broadly appealing unisex sort of vibe. But, I prefer the design to the Apple Watch; the Samsung looks much more like an actual watch than a mini-iPhone strapped to your wrist. Furthermore, Samsung has gotten quite a bit more daring with their designs than Apple, offering a rather bold Green and an adorable Rose Gold with a light pink wrist-band. Let me put this another way, if I had to choose the Samsung or an Apple Watch purely in terms of looks, it would be the Samsung Galaxy Active hands-down.

The Tech

Bright, colorful, and high-resolution screen is fantastic for a $200 watch and on par with many smart watches that cost $350 or more. Powered by a dual-core Exynos 9110 CPU, you can expect smooth performance and nearly perfect responsiveness. But remember, it’s a smaller screen that is navigated primarily by touch so accidentally pressing the wrong thing happens from time to time.

Overview

I can’t remember the last time I strongly recommended a Samsung watch, but they’ve got a real winner on their hands with the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active.

My helpful group of female reviewers was particularly thrilled by the fact that the Galaxy Watch Active is 20% smaller and a whopping 60% lighter than the Galaxy Watch; this form-factor and lightweight wearable is really the type of device you can forget you’re wearing—at least until a string of notifications comes in.

I’ve had friends, family, and co-workers get a little confused by what Tizen is…Simply put: it’s the operating system (software) Samsung uses on their watches. Long story short it’s an open-source and flexible operating system which has hundreds of excellent, well-made apps now available (and easily on par with) Google’s Wear OS in most respects.

Where Tizen and the Galaxy Watch Active really begin to shine is on the health and fitness tracking areas handled by the Health App; there’s more automation and better automatic tracking of activity than on some of the Fitbits or Wear OS alternatives. You can also track a vast range of exercises, and by “vast” I mean automatic detection on seven activities with tracking on 39 more also available. Is it as strong a fitness tracker as the really expensive Garmin wearables? No, it’s not, but we’re talking about a lifestyle watch that is 1/3rd the cost of many of Garmin’s offerings.

Heart-rate and sleep tracking are standard, but what I do like is that the Galaxy Watch Active encourages you to begin to wind down and helps you stay on a sleep schedule—which, if you’re someone like me who lacks specific “adulting” skills and discipline, this is a helpful feature.

I really scoured all of the wearable manufacturers to find the Best Women’s Smart Watch of 2020, and for once, the decision was simple: Samsung’s won this round. There is simply not a better, more well rounded, high-end, and adorable smartwatch on the market anywhere near this price. Once you add the applications you desire, this watch encroaches on Apple Watch territory in a package that is as pretty as it is functional.

Pro-Tip

If you have a compatible Samsung smartphone you can lay your Galaxy Watch Active along the back of it, and the phone will charge it; Samsung has some real geniuses over in their engineering department because that is just plain clever and I love this feature for those times when I forget to charge my watch overnight!

Read the full: Samsung Galaxy Watch Active2 Review

Conclusion:

So how did you do and what do you think?

Did you pore over every last word of my carefully crafted prose above, or did you cheat and skip to the conclusion for a quick recap of this ever so insightful article? It’s okay, I understand, you’re busy, and I really should just turn this whole thing into a YouTube video.

Here’s the skinny for those of you who don’t like lots of words:

If you want a robust fitness tracker, check out the Garmin Forerunner 45S, Fitbit Versa Special Edition, or the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active.

Are you an Apple fanatic or deeply embedded within Apple’s ecosystem? Then go for the Apple Watch Series 4 in the 40mm size.

How about fashion, first and foremost?

Well, then you have some delectable choices with the Michael Kors Runway Acetate and Rainbow Pavé Smartwatch, the Louis Vuitton Connected Watch Tambour Horizon, or the Kate Spade White Silicone Scallop 2. All three are beauties in their own right with massive variance in price, but relatively similar capability.

Need a hybrid smartwatch, or you want something really focused on the workplace? Then the M.Y. Misfit – Custom Misfit Path, Withings Steel H.R., or the Skagen Smartwatch Falster 2 Magnetic Steel-Mesh are going to put a smile on your face even when your overbearing boss tries to ruin your mood.

But if you want the best female-focused, well-rounded smartwatch of 2020, then it’s the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active which I also mentioned is a fantastic fitness tracker.

Whatever you decide, make sure to pick at least your top three and click the links above so you can play around with the various configurators and look at more pictures—because most of the manufacturers have cobbled together some wonderful watch and watch-band combinations that will inevitably influence your final decision.

Did you find what you’re looking for?

If not, then head on over to our Top 10 Smart Watches of 2020 Buyers Guide…We’ve got some other interesting finds that might be a fit for you, or make a great gift for a friend, family member or your significant other.

Once again, this about wraps things up, and I hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it. My name is Ryan, and my info is below if you want to give me a shout or shout at me. Hope to see you all again soon here on BestGear.co!

We Think You’ll Enjoy the Following:

Here are a couple of super-sweet videos from other creators I’m certain you’ll enjoy, and please, make sure to visit us again soon.

• Have you ever checked out iJustine’s YouTube Channel? She’s brilliant. Here’s what she is using on her Apple Watch Series 4: What’s on my Apple Watch!
• Any Louis Vuitton fans here? The production quality of their Tambour Horizon video is on point: Louis Vuitton’s New Tambour Horizon Connected Watch
• No technology article would be complete without a link to the one and only Mr. Marques Brownlee. Check out the future of smartphones right here because I will guarantee, you’ll be blown away by this: Samsung Galaxy Fold Unboxing: Magnets!

Our Reviews & Affiliate Partners:

Best Gear’s reviews come from the heart and from a crazy amount of research. We poke, prod, fuss with, and put every product through rigorous testing. On top of that, we factor in user-reviews, video reviews, manufacturer data, 3rd party information, and much more—all so we can communicate a clear picture of each product so you’ll be delighted when you follow our advice and make a purchase. On some products, we receive a commission from our affiliate partners when you buy through our links, but our recommendations are always independent and objective…In other words: we don’t get paid to say nice things—we only say nice things when a product has earned it.